SEEMS that Ireland is a cut-price location for anybody wanting to set up an offshore company, at least judging from some recent advertisements in the Economist.

One group specialising in setting up offshore companies, London-based SCF, will charge £195 to set up an Irish company for non-residents, the same as a company in the Isle of Man. A company in the British Virgin Islands will cost £265, Jersey will knock back anybody looking for an offshore brass plate £395 while a Delaware company will cost a cool £495.

Another offshore specialist, OCRA, will charge $225 (£135) for an Irish company, but anyone wanting to have their brass plate on the banks of the Danube in Hungary will have to pay $1,995 while a company in Madeira will set you back $2,250.

It's good to know that an Irish brass plate carries such prestige.